Letter from the Head
Every school has a head. Some schools also have a heart. And this is why I count myself so fortunate to be at Leckford Place.
Central to our philosophy is the idea that school should be a place where the individual child is at the centre of everything the school does. A place where it is axiomatic that children are different, and that they learn, mature and develop in different ways. This is a school that is flexible and subtle enough in the way it is run to be able to accommodate the needs and personalities of individual children, and to help them flourish and feel comfortable, rather than a school that expects all children to fit a set mould – or else!
Children are different, and they learn, mature and develop in different ways
Within this framework, we combine the highest standards of teaching, learning and pastoral care with a strong emphasis on ethical values and a sense of community. Developing self-confidence, encouraging pupils to aim high, and valuing achievement in all aspects of school life – these are all key elements of the school ethos.
For this reason, class sizes at Leckford Place are not allowed to grow beyond 15, throughout the school – from Year 7 through to Year 11. The school itself will reach capacity with around 220 pupils, which is large enough for children to have a wide peer group, yet small enough for everyone to feel an important part of the school community.
We want to be a happy and stimulating place in which pupils feel confident and valued
Leckford Place is part of d'Overbroeck's College, and we expect most of our pupils to go on to the Sixth Form at d'Overbroeck's, post GCSE.
The school is co-educational throughout. In a city where independent education is dominated by single-sex schools, we like having boys and girls working side by side, and we feel that this makes for a healthier, more balanced environment in which everyone has an equal opportunity to shine. Life is co-educational, after all.
To summarise my personal vision for Leckford Place: children should go through the school feeling that it is a happy and stimulating place in which they feel confident and valued, and to which they look forward every morning. They should leave it not only having fulfilled their personal best in terms of examination results, but also equipped to progress to the next stage of their lives with confidence, enthusiasm and a healthy dose of those good, old-fashioned (perhaps a better word is 'timeless') qualities of truth, compassion, generosity and optimism.
Mark Olejnik
Head
